MOSCOW, September 28. /TASS/. It is more preferable for Russia to fight militants from the former Soviet Union on the territory of Syria than to expect their return, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the US TV anchorman Charles Rose for the CBS and PBS channels.

"There are more than 2,000 militants in Syria from the former Soviet Union. So instead of waiting for them to return back home we should help President al-Assad fight them there, in Syria. This is the main incentive that impels us to help President al-Assad," Putin said. "In general, we want the situation in the region to stabilize."

The Russian leader said the assessment that Assad’s actions help the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and that Assad’s resignation may help boost antiterrorism efforts is "a blatant act by al-Assad’s enemies. It is anti-Syrian propaganda."